The late Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe, has been identified as the owner of 106 properties in London, according to a new investigative report.
The findings were published by The Londoner in a report titled “Revealed: The billionaires who really own London,” which exposes the true owners behind more than 32,000 properties across the city.
The investigation became possible following recent legal reforms in the United Kingdom requiring foreign companies to disclose their beneficial owners. These changes have lifted the veil on previously concealed property holdings tied to offshore entities.
According to the report, 2,224 high-value and prominent London properties are registered to companies based in St Helier, Jersey—a British Crown Dependency widely regarded as a tax haven.
Wigwe was ranked seventh among the top property owners, with 106 assets attributed to him. Others listed ahead include John Corless (246 properties), Sarah Bard (130), Simon Reuben (129), Alexander Bard (122), Rit Thirakomen (120), and Wolfgang Peter Egger (112).
Wigwe, along with his wife, son, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash on February 9, 2024, near the Nevada border in California. All six passengers on board were confirmed dead.
A final report by the National Transportation Safety Board attributed the crash to the pilot’s decision to proceed under visual flight rules despite encountering instrument meteorological conditions.
In the aftermath of his death, disputes have emerged over Wigwe’s estate. In February 2025, legal proceedings intensified as his father and cousin filed an appeal challenging a ruling by the Lagos State High Court concerning the administration of his assets.
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